How Much Bigotry Does One Reindeer Have to Deal With?

I just watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS this week, and I was wondering if Rudolph has any real friends.

It seems to me that everyone he encounters, except for Comet's daughter Clarice and his friend Hermey, is a complete bigot. And, the biggest Archie Bunker of them all is the fatman himself, Santa.

St. Nick just can't find it in his heart to forgive young Rudolph for being born with a birth defect. Upon their first meeting, when Rudolph is fresh out of his mother's womb, Santa tells father Donner that he has to do something about Rudolph and that nose of his.

Later, Rudolph shows off his flying skills, demonstrating that he was better than any of the other young bucks who were at the trials -- those same bucks that would not allow him to play in any of their reindeer games. Santa was quite impressed with the lad, until Rudolph's faux black nose fell off to reveal the awful truth that he had a glowing red nose. Santa's response? "What a shame, and he has such a good takeoff, too!" So, just because he's different, there was no way in hell that Santa was going to give him an opportunity to lead his sleigh. And, to literally add insult to injury, Santa tells Donner he should be ashamed of himself! For what? having a son with a deformity? Before seeing this show, I would have thought Santa was Pro-Life, but I guess not now.

Santa finally changes his tune when he realizes Rudolph can actually help him. And right before he asks him to guide his sleigh, Santa is still putting him down, asking him to "tone down" his nose.

Then you have Clarice's father, Comet. The guy is pure evil. When he finds out Rudolph isn't like the rest of the deer, he not only shuns him, but tells all the kids to avoid him like the plague, saying in his best Eddie G. Robinson, "We won't let Rudolph play in any more reindeer games...right? Right!"

After seeing this sickening display, I won't be going to the North Pole any time soon. I mean, if Santa sees that I'm balding a little, he might never bring me presents again. And who knows what the hell Comet would do. Time to turn that guy into beef jerky.

Merry Christmas!

RoadRage